What if healthy habits could begin with a song, a dance, or a story featuring Elmo? That’s exactly the idea behind a new initiative launched in India by Sesame Workshop—the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street—with support from global healthcare company Abbott.

The program, unveiled this week, is designed to help children and families build simple, everyday routines around nutrition, physical activity, and sleep—habits that can set the stage for lifelong wellness and help reduce the risk of chronic diseases later in life. To make these ideas easy to understand and practice, the resources are being shared in Hindi and thoughtfully adapted to reflect India’s local culture, communities, and family realities.

A key highlight of the initiative is the Hindi premiere of “Elmo’s World: Dance Party,” a family special now streaming on Sesame Street India’s YouTube channel. Packed with lively music, familiar Sesame Street characters, and playful movement, the show invites children and caregivers to explore healthy behaviors together—turning learning into a joyful, shared experience.

The program was officially launched on the ground in Lucknow, where Smt. Leena Johri, Additional Chief Secretary, Women and Child Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh, marked the occasion alongside representatives from Sesame Workshop India, Abbott India, government officials, and frontline health workers from local Anganwadi centers. The launch underscored a growing focus on introducing healthy routines early in life, especially at the community level.

At the event, Anganwadi workers were given access to a wide range of healthy habits resources, recognizing their vital role as trusted connectors between families and health systems. Designed specifically for young children and caregivers, the materials feature beloved Sesame Street characters and rely on play-based learning and simple activities to encourage positive behavior change.

In India, the program offers a rich mix of Hindi-language resources, including storybooks, activity books, yoga guides, calendars, flashcards, and interactive games. These are being distributed through Anganwadi centers, community platforms, and digital channels—ensuring that families and frontline workers alike can use them easily in everyday settings.

Speaking at the launch, Smt. Johri emphasized the importance of addressing children’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing early on. She highlighted how habits such as balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, structured daily routines, and positive thinking can help children grow into healthy and empowered individuals. She also stressed the need for focused efforts in remote and underserved areas, pointing to the value of play-based learning, connection with nature, and safe, nurturing environments.

She further reiterated the Department of Women and Child Development’s ongoing commitment to strengthening programs related to nutrition, health, education, and mental wellbeing, noting that collaboration among government systems, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, local communities, and social organizations is key to making lasting impact.

Reflecting on the initiative, Sonali Khan, Managing Director, Sesame Workshop India, said the program is built on a simple but powerful belief: healthy habits, when introduced early, can shape a child’s wellbeing for life.

“Through this initiative, we are reaching more than 10,000 children and caregivers on the ground by working closely with Anganwadi centres and ASHA workers, while also connecting with millions of families through digital platforms, including our YouTube special and related resources,” she said. “By aligning with existing government programs and community systems in Uttar Pradesh, we are helping make healthy routines a natural part of everyday life.”

From a broader health perspective, Poonam Sharma, Director, Global Citizenship & Sustainability, Abbott India, highlighted the urgency of early intervention. With non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity rising sharply among children and adolescents in India, she noted, prevention must start young.

“Healthy habits start early,” she said. “Together with Sesame Workshop, we’ve developed a program that offers research-based content, community outreach, and free resources to help families take small, meaningful steps toward a healthier future.”

The launch was attended by members of Sesame Workshop India, including Sanjay Kumar, Noorul Haque, Dr. Jayanti Prakash, Bhawneet Singh, and Nishant Baruah, along with Anganwadi workers who shared insights from the field. The discussions reinforced the critical role frontline workers play in encouraging healthy behaviors at the community level.

Through this initiative, Sesame Workshop and Abbott India aim to empower children, caregivers, and frontline workers to build habits that support lifelong physical and emotional wellbeing—one small, everyday step at a time.